Philippine bet Clinton Bautista wins gold in 110m hurdles during the 30th Southeast Asian Games. INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
NEW CLARK CITY — Clinton Kingsley Bautista may have that stateside looks and first names, but he’s a proud Tarlaqueño.
It came in handy for him that his family and province mates cheered as he zoomed away with the men’s 110-meter hurdles Monday night in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.
The crowd at the NCC athletics stadium, which stands on Capas town in Tarlac, got a dazzling treat from the hometown guy who won the gold medal via a thrilling, photo finish against his Malaysian foe.
“I was not thinking of anything, I just went for the gold,” said Bautista — born and raised in Camiling town — said in Filipino. “I’m very happy I have many supporters here.”
Bautista, 27, charged to the finish to make sure he gets ahead because “that’s what I have to do.”
The 27-year-old Bautista and Sofian Rayzan Wan both clocked 13.97 seconds but it was the Filipino who crossed the finish first based on the video feed.
Andusone Xaysa of Laos got the bronze (13.99 seconds) in that wild, frenetic ending.
“I don’t expect to win I just aimed to make 13 seconds, because that was our goal me and my coach (Dario de Rosas),” Bautista added.
Bautista said he trained for two years straight and even sustained a knee injury that fortunately got fully healed soon enough.
“This is very important for me because the SEA Games is being held here,” he said.